Fox station changes hands

Retlaw, a Fresno, Calif.-based company, owns nine CBS-affiliated television states in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and two Fox affiliates in Georgia. Fisher, a Seattle-based company, owns two ABC-affiliated television stations and 24 radio stations. Construction permits have been issued for a 25th station in Hamilton, Mont.

The deal, struck last fall, is subject to regulatory approval. It creates a broadcast group of 13 television stations and 25 radio stations. That gives Fisher a broadcasting reach of 5 percent of U.S. households with televisions.

"We don't think that the community will see any changes at all to the negative," said Dave Olmsted, WFXG general manager and Retlaw vice president of Southeast operations. "Fisher is a fine broadcast company."

The deal is expected to close in May, he said.

In addition to WFXG, Fisher is buying a Fox affiliate in Columbus, Ga., also a Retlaw company. No personnel changes are expected at either company, Mr. Olmsted said.

The acquisition allows Fisher -- which also owns flour milling, food distribution and real estate development companies -- to diversify its media holdings.

The move will fulfill several strategic goals, Fisher Cos. President and Chief Executive Officer William W. Krippaehne Jr. said in a prepared statement. It adds more television stations with other network affiliations, CBS and Fox; and it diversifies the geographical areas where the stations are located.

Retlaw (Walter spelled backward) is named after Walt Disney. Retlaw bought WFXG in May from John Pezold, who lives in Columbus and also owned Retlaw's other Fox affiliate in Columbus.